Then I told her how I had found three of the children engaged that evening, concluding:  “The circumstances of their lot are more to blame than they themselves.  And why should I find fault with you because you are nervous?  You could no more help being nervous and a little impatient than you could prevent the heat of the lamp from burning you, should you place your finger over it.  I know the cause of it all.  As for Mousie, she is growing paler and thinner every day.  You know what my income is; we could not change things much for the better by taking other rooms and moving to another part of the city, and we might find that we had changed for the worse.  I propose that we go to the country and get our living out of the soil.”

“Why, Robert! what do you know about farming or gardening?”

“Not very much, but I am not yet too old to learn; and there would be something for the children to do at once, pure air for them to breathe, and space for them to grow healthfully in body, mind, and soul.  You know I have but little money laid by, and am not one of those smart men who can push their way.  I don’t know much besides bookkeeping, and my employers think I am not remarkably quick at that.  I can’t seem to acquire the lightning speed with which things are done nowadays; and while I try to make up by long hours and honesty, I don’t believe I could ever earn much more than I am getting now, and you know it doesn’t leave much of a margin for sickness or misfortune of any kind.  After all, what does my salary give us but food and clothing and shelter, such as it is, with a little to spare in some years?  It sends a cold chill to my heart to think what should become of you and the children if I should be sick or anything should happen to me.  Still, it is the present welfare of the children that weighs most on my mind, Winifred.  They are no longer little things that you can keep in these rooms and watch over; there is danger for them just outside that door.  It wouldn’t be so if beyond the door lay a garden and fields and woods.  You, my overtaxed wife, wouldn’t worry about them the moment they were out of sight, and my work, instead of being away from them all day, could be with them.  And all could do something, even down to pale Mousie and little Bobsey.  Outdoor life and pure air, instead of that breathed over and over, would bring quiet to your nerves and the roses back to your cheeks.  The children would grow sturdy and strong; much of their work would be like play to them; they wouldn’t be always in contact with other children that we know nothing about.  I am aware that the country isn’t Eden, as we have imagined it—­for I lived there as a boy—­but it seems like Eden compared to this place and its surroundings; and I feel as if I were being driven back to it by circumstances I can’t control.”

CHAPTER III

NEW PROSPECTS

There is no need of dwelling further on the reasons for or against the step we proposed.  We thought a great deal and talked it over several times.  Finally my wife agreed that the change would be wise and best for all.  Then the children were taken into our confidence, and they became more delighted every day as the prospect grew clearer to them.